Genesis 45:19

19 "Also tell them this: 'Here's what I want you to do: Take wagons from Egypt to carry your little ones and your wives and load up your father and come back.

Genesis 45:19 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 45:19

Now thou art commanded, this do ye
Had his orders from Pharaoh; had full power and authority to do the above things, and what follows: the sense Joseph Kimchi gives of this clause is, that Joseph was ordered by Pharaoh not to let any wagons go out of Egypt with corn, lest the Egyptians should want; but now Pharaoh said to him, though thou wert thus ordered, yet bid thy brethren do as follows:

take you wagons out of the land of Egypt:
and lade them with corn, as the same writer observes; the Targum of Jonathan adds, which were drawn by oxen:

for your little ones, and for your wives:
the wagons were to carry the women and children in when they returned:

and bring your father, and come;
in one of the carriages, or in what way was most agreeable to him in his old age.

Genesis 45:19 In-Context

17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers, 'This is the plan: Load up your pack animals; go to Canaan,
18 get your father and your families and bring them back here. I'll settle you on the best land in Egypt - you'll live off the fat of the land.'
19 "Also tell them this: 'Here's what I want you to do: Take wagons from Egypt to carry your little ones and your wives and load up your father and come back.
20 Don't worry about having to leave things behind; the best in all of Egypt will be yours.'"
21 And they did just that, the sons of Israel. Joseph gave them the wagons that Pharaoh had promised and food for the trip.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.